Correction Officer

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Work Tasks

• Make sure people who are in jails or prisons are following rules
• Keep a close watch on everything inmates do and walk with them when they go from one place to another or to meet visitors
• Search cells for weapons or drugs and stop fights between inmates
• Make sure locks, window bars, and gates are in good shape
• Work indoors or outdoors at federal, state, and local jails and prisons
• Work with inmates, timetables, behavior reports, and inmate mail

Salary, Size & Growth

• $51,000 average per year ($24.50 per hour)
• A large occupation (514,800 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow moderately (0.9% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: On-the-job training with a high school diploma, 21 or older, a US citizen, 2 years work experience, and no felonies
• Employers Prefer: A 2-year degree in psychology, criminal justice, police science, criminology, or related fields
• Skills/Courses: Training academics teach institutional policies, regulations and operations, and custody and security procedures.